Profile

Richard Zeckhauser is the Frank P. Ramsey
Professor of Political Economy, Kennedy School, Harvard University. He graduated from
Harvard College (summa cum laude) and received his Ph.D. there. He
is an elected fellow of the Econometric Society, the Institute of
Medicine (National Academy of Sciences), and the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences. In 2014, he was named a Distinguished Fellow
of the American Economic Association. His contributions to decision
theory and behavioral economics include the concepts of
quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), status quo bias, betrayal
aversion, and ignorance (states of the world unknown) as a
complement to the categories of risk and uncertainty. Many of his
policy investigations explore ways to promote the health of human
beings, to help markets work more effectively, and to foster
informed and appropriate choices by individuals and government
agencies. Zeckhauser has published over 280 articles. His recent
coauthored books are The Patron's Payoff: Conspicuous
Commissions in Italian Renaissance Art (2008), and
Collaborative Governance: Private Roles for Public Goals
(2011). Apart from academics, Zeckhauser is a Senior Principal at
Equity Resource Investments, a real estate private equity firm. He
has won multiple national championships in contract bridge.

Druz, Marina, Alexander F. Wagner, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Tips
and Tells from Managers: How Analysts and the Market Read Between
the Lines of Conference Calls." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper
Series RWP15-006, February 2015.

Freeman, Mark C., Gernot Wagner, and Richard J. Zeckhauser.
"Climate Sensitivity Uncertainty: When is Good News Bad?" HKS
Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP15-002, January 2015.

Wernerfelt, Nils, David Slusky, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Second
Trimester Sunlight and Asthma: Evidence from Two Independent
Studies." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP14-050,
October 2014.

Rogers, Todd, Richard Zeckhauser, Francesca Gino, Maurice
Schweitzer, and Mike Norton. "Artful Paltering: The Risks and
Rewards of Using Truthful Statements to Mislead Others." HKS
Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP14-045, September 2014.